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Star finds time for reflection as Hotshots welcome sports ministry to practice

Randy Shepherd, a former college player and co-founder of Crossfire Ministry, prays over injured Star forward Marc Pingris. Karlo Sacamos

EVEN before this Holy Week, Star’s players already had time for reflection.

The Hotshots a few weeks ago welcomed a US-based sports ministry that conducted bible study after the team’s practice.

Randy Shepherd, a former college player and co-founder of Crossfire Ministry, paid a visit to one Hotshots training session and spread the good news by impressively spinning a basketball on a spoon, a toothbrush, and a cellphone antenna – three representations.

“(With the spoon), I talk about ‘Taste and see the Lord is good,’” he said, referring to Psalm 34:8. “Jesus wants to clean your heart up – the toothbrush, and the cellphone – going around the world to share the gospel.”

“We just want to use our talents to bring glory and honor to God,” the 52-year-old former UNC-Asheville standout added.

The Hotshots practice was one of several stops in a seven-city tour in the country that week by Crossfire, which is made up of former college players and born-again athletes.

Shepherd even gave a pray-over to select Hotshots players, including Marc Pingris.